14.15
HeavyEaster Festival 8-10 April Novice Hurdle
- Prize money: £6004.42
- 2m 3f 110y
- 6 runners
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Runners: 6 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
Abandoned
Form: 6122 D
Last run: 47 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 123
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15th 3 |
10th Oct 2023 Yielding 2m 7f 0y |
11st 10lb |
Well below his best in two handicap hurdles in the spring but a bit better run in a Wexford novice in May; poor over fences last twice. |
25/1 |
|
0 3 |
1st Sep 2023 Good 3m 0f 0y |
11st 1lb |
Sole win came in 2m5f maiden here last year, showing better form in novice company afterwards; below best in the spring and tailed off on chasing debut in July; tongue tie tried now back hurdling but looks to have it to do on recent form. |
16/1 |
|
6th 5 |
4th Jul 2023 Good To Yielding 2m 3f 114y |
11st 5lb |
Far better than latest placings suggest but hard to know what to expect here on chasing debut from this 0-4 pointer and 1-7 hurdler; worth a market check all the same. |
16/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 13 BF
Last run: 54 days
W: 11st 10lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 3m 0f 213y |
11st 10lb |
Smart staying handicapper at his best; won the Kerry National at Listowel last September and looked set for victory in the Thyestes at Gowran Park in January when unseating at the final fence; pulled up in the Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse, same outcome in the Grand National. |
25/1 |
|
10 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
Career with Willie Mullins took a long time to catch fire but it's done so this season and he looked set for victory in the Thyestes at Gowran Park (3m1f, heavy) in January when unseating at the final fence; pulled up behind Grangeclare West last time but back catalogue includes a creditable sixth in the Scottish National and fourth in bet365 Cup at Sandown, so he stays long distances; his revised mark since the Thyestes would be the chief worry. |
33/1 |
|
9 |
21st Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 2f 0y |
11st 0lb |
Got his first chase win at the 11th attempt at Punchestown in June before following up in the Kerry National at Listowel (3m, yielding); pulled up at Newbury but looked set for victory in the Theyestes (3m1f, heavy) last time when unseating at the final flight; firmly in the mix but Townend rides Grangeclare West. |
4/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 35-416
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 16 |
4th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 5f 45y |
10st 5lb |
Won a valuable staying handicap chase at the 2024 Punchestown festival; ordinary form since then, although did well to maintain contact with top-class performers when 66-1 outsider of four at Down Royal on St Patrick's Day; flattered by proximity but the run implies a return to form; rider doing well in point-to-points, 8-22 this season. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 1-132
Last run: 30 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 7 |
11th May 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 100y |
11st 0lb |
Shares the highest official mark with Gentleman De Mee but he's a strong stayer who hasn't raced over this short a trip since 2023; finished ninth in the Grand National last time. |
13/2 |
|
9th 15 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
11st 0lb |
Career-best form in the autumn this season, including a win at Cheltenham (3m1f) and second to Panic Attack in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f); flopped when favourite in the Grade 3 won by Grangeclare West at Fairyhouse in February, admittedly after 12 weeks off but there's the additional worry of last year's Grand National in which he was 16-1 and raced very prominently but faded steadily from three out. |
50/1 |
|
7th 10 |
21st Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 2f 0y |
11st 0lb |
Has performed well in big field 3m+ chases this season; finished second to Spanish Harlem in the Kerry National at Listowel (3m, yielding) then went one better at Cheltenham (3m1f, good); posted another good performance when runner-up in the Coral Gold Cuo at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft) when last seen; ground is fine for him; player. |
9/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 471PF0 CD
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 3lb
6 yo Mare
OR: 110
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0 3 |
21st Jan 2024 Yielding 2m 5f 132y |
11st 7lb |
Latest win came in a 2m2f mares chase here in March; consistent since without winning, most recently behind R'Eveleyn Pleasure at Cork; should get closer but others preferred. |
7/1 |
|
4th 2 |
6th Jan 2024 Heavy 2m 4f 0y |
11st 7lb |
Won a 2m2f mares' event at Thurles last March; has done most of her racing in conditions races; soundly beaten in fourth behind the useful Brides Hill in a mares' handicap at Fairyhouse last month; probably vulnerable off this mark. |
6/1 |
|
4th 6 |
3rd Dec 2023 Soft 2m 4f 0y |
10st 11lb |
towards rear, not fluent 1st |
7/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 360935
Last run: 19 days
W: 10st 11lb
6 yo Mare
OR: 84
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 1 |
19th Oct 2024 Good 2m 5f 0y |
11st 12lb |
in rear |
17/2 |
|
3rd 2 |
10th Oct 2024 Soft 2m 0f 0y |
11st 10lb |
One of her two hurdle wins came over C&D last year; outclassed and tailed-off on comeback from an absence six days ago; this is more realistic and can run well if on form. |
6/1 |
|
3 |
4th Oct 2024 Good 2m 0f 0y |
10st 11lb |
Won a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle and a Tramore handicap hurdle last year; not seen since August last year and best watched on her return. |
33/1 |
Verdict
THREE CARD BRAG has some solid Graded form over obstacles and was unlucky not to win the Grade 2 at Navan on his last start. That race looked to turn into a sprint finish and the hurdles were omitted in the straight, both of which counted against him. Spanish Harlem ran a promising race on his Irish debut at Gowran but will need to find plenty of improvement to beat the selection. Dovlator is holding his form well, but has a tough assignment given the strength of the likely market principals. [Conor Fennelly]